On this Sunday, January 29, at 11am, in St Peter and Paul’s, Parish Church, Portlaoise, RTE, will televise a live celebration of the Eucharist, in the context of the beginning of Catholic School’s week.
As chaplain, to a number of schools, it’s a daily privilege and rich experience to witness the life, energy, enthusiasm and rich diversity that is the wonderful story of all our school communities.
Catholic schools enjoy a rich tradition and continue, with an inclusive and holistic vision, to reach out to diverse educational needs of our time. Catholic schools, by their very nature, are not exclusive clubs. In this regard, many different, cultures, creeds and non-creeds coexist in a very progressive, inclusive and dynamic model.
Part of the living ethos of Catholic schools, includes a faith programme, which permeates into every aspect of school curricular, not just the designated time allotted to more formal Religious Education.
A positive sense of self, coupled with an image of God as a loving and compassionate friend, empowers young people, to grow in self confidence and with a sense of justice and morality that will contribute to society greatly in their adult lives.
Recent secular opinions, shared by successive government educational ministers, seriously question the role Catholic education, may have in a pluralist and liberal Ireland. Ministers of Education, gave clear bias to the establishment of non faith based schools. In the same vein, there is also a constant criticism to the teaching of religion every day in Catholic schools.
Fundamentally, this is indicative of western secular culture, that strives more and more to remove God and Gospel values from society. I and many citizens of the Republic, refuse to buy into this populist mantra.
A mantra, on a recent “Late Late show” that ridiculed the Blessed Eucharist, held so very reverently for Catholics as “Haunted Bread”… Such blatant bigotry and blasphemy is offensive, and deeply insulting, to thousands of Catholic citizens here in Portlaoise and across the Republic, who are promised in our constitution the right to “Freely practice religion” without ridicule or media bias.
Catholic schools began when this State failed to provide basic education to its young citizens. Religious congregations gave freely their entire professional lives in service to this Nobel endeavour.
When the state was found wanting Catholic religious offered educational opportunity to in time be the foundation of a highly skilled and professional generation that now attract foreign investment and creating solid employment and strong economic performance.
The pulse of every catholic school is one of encouragement, inclusivity, compassion and at all times respecting diversity and ethnicity. Catholic schools across Europe and the United States are seriously sought after places where young people not just experience excellent education, but also discover a moral compass for their unique journey through life.
Recent debates about divesting Catholic Patronage to the State proved a non-runner. The vast majority of citizens are very pleased with the ethos and educational opportunities in our Catholic Schools.
I humbly suggest that our Government should invest its time and energy in providing adequate resources, for the best educational environments for this generation. Catholic Ethos is far from dead and over.
